Yet modern military targets are not the only thing in Irbil worth protecting. Irbil is, according to the United Nations, among “the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world.” The city has been touched by ancient civilizations, says the U.N., “such as the Sumerian, Babylonian, Greek, Islamic and Ottoman.” The massive citadel at the heart of the city was added to the U.N.'s World Heritage list not even two months ago.

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About Colin Schultz

Colin Schultz is a freelance science writer and editor based in Toronto, Canada. He blogs for Smart News and contributes to the American Geophysical Union. He has a B.Sc. in physical science and philosophy, and a M.A. in journalism.

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